WSJ editors furiously blister president for ‘kowtowing to the Kremlin’ in Helsinki for personal profit

In what may be their most critical commentary on the president of Donald Trump, the editors of the deeply conservative Wall Street Journal questioned the loyalty of the president saying he is putting his personal profit and desire for attention before the needs of the country.

Calling it the “Trump First Doctrine,” the editors called the president’s latest overseas trip to meet with NATO leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin a prelude to a “weak and dangerous place to be.”

The start of the editorial was exceptionally blunt.

“Donald Trump left for Europe a week ago with his reputation enhanced by a strong Supreme Court nomination. He returned Monday with that reputation diminished after a tumultuous week of indulging what amounts to the Trump First Doctrine,” it began.

“Mr. Trump marched through Europe with more swagger than strategy. His diplomacy is personal, rooted in instinct and impulse, and he treats other leaders above all on how much they praise Donald J. Trump,” it continued. “He says what pops into his head to shock but then disavows it if there’s a backlash. He criticizes institutions and policies to grab headlines but then claims victory no matter the outcome.”

“The world hasn’t seen a U.S. President like this in modern times, and as ever in Trump World everyone else will have to adapt. Let’s navigate between the critics who predict the end of world order and the cheerleaders who see only genius, and try to offer a realistic assessment of the fallout from a troubling week,” they wrote before going point by point through Trump’s disastrous European trip.

Addressing Trump’s dismissal of U.S. intelligence agencies accusations that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election while standing next to Putin, the WSJ called it a “kowtow to the Kremlin.”

“The charitable explanation for this kowtow to the Kremlin is that Mr. Trump can’t get past his fury that critics claim his election was tainted by Russian interference. And so he couldn’t resist, in front of the world, going off on a solipsistic ramble about ‘Hillary Clinton’s emails’ and Democratic ‘servers.'” they wrote. “He can’t seem to figure out that the more he indulges his ego in this fashion, and the more he seems to indulge Mr. Putin, the more ammunition he gives to his opponents.”

“For a rare moment in his Presidency, Mr. Trump also projected weakness,” they scolded. “He was the one on stage beseeching Mr. Putin for a better relationship, while the Russian played it cool and matter of fact. Mr. Trump touted their personal rapport, saying the bilateral relationship has never been worse than it is now. However, that changed as of about four hours ago. I really believe that.’ In four hours?”

“By going soft on Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump will paradoxically find it even harder to make deals with the Russian. Republicans and Democrats will unite in Congress, as they should, to limit his diplomatic running room. Mr. Trump may decide to court Mr. Putin anyway, like Barack Obama did Iran’s mullahs, but political isolation concerning a foreign adversary is a weak and dangerous place to be,” they concluded in a final warning.

I honestly don't see how you people can continue to support this man. If Obama had pulled 1% of the shit Trump pulls, you would have lynched him already.

He is truly the Manchurian Candidate. His puppet master is very pleased with Trump's performance.

"When you were asked, what's the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said 'Russia.' Not Al-Qaeda; you said Russia," Obama charged. "And, the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back, because, the Cold War's been over for 20 years."

After sitting back and watching this for a couple of days, it seems to me is that POTUS didn't say on a world stage when he had the opportunity what all the anti-Trumpers have convinced themselves of what is true - that he believed Russia interfered with the election and stole the win from Hillary. Now before you get all wrapped up in the TRAITOR TREASON SEDITION nonsense, just ask yourself this - what did you expect him to say? He's held firm that he believes Russian interference did not play a role in the 2016 election for the last year and a half. He's not going to change his tune just because some French AP reporter tried to blindside him with the question. Now, be honest with yourselves - this is less about anybody actually believing Trump is some kind of traitor, and more about all this Trump hate coming to a head a exploding like a giant cyst. You know it's true.

He fumbled the ball, thats pretty clear to me

Either be tough, or demur and say next to nothing... let the 'TRAITOR!' hot air patrol spout off, he'll come out the other side of this storm a bit wiser

After sitting back and watching this for a couple of days, it seems to me is that POTUS didn't say on a world stage when he had the opportunity what all the anti-Trumpers have convinced themselves of what is true - that he believed Russia interfered with the election and stole the win from Hillary. Now before you get all wrapped up in the TRAITOR TREASON SEDITION nonsense, just ask yourself this - what did you expect him to say? He's held firm that he believes Russian interference did not play a role in the 2016 election for the last year and a half. He's not going to change his tune just because some French AP reporter tried to blindside him with the question. Now, be honest with yourselves - this is less about anybody actually believing Trump is some kind of traitor, and more about all this Trump hate coming to a head a exploding like a giant cyst. You know it's true.

It is.

I've never seen people overreact to the simplest of things as bad as they do now, I can only shudder to think of how worse it will be in future years.

Kotter: "You are lucky I'm truly not the vindictive or psycho type...I'd be careful from now on, and I'd just back the hell off if I were you....otherwise, the Mizzou "extension office" life might get exciting"